I’m sitting here about to ring in my 20th year of life while reflecting back on the past nine days in London. It’s been a crazy ride so far. I’ve learned so much.

I packed light with the intention of shopping which made the journey less stressful. Except for the whole adapter hair dryer/curler/flat iron situation. Dual voltage appliances and Boots Pharmacy saved me. My curler worked, my flat iron didn’t and I decided to buy a hair dryer here.

Upon arrival, I was greeted with a less than sanitary, tiny studio apartment with a bed as stiff as a board and a shower in which I can barely move. Of course I brushed these first hiccups off in order to avoid being that girl. After about a day it really hit me: I’m literally in another country all by myself for three weeks. I decided to mope around for a bit until I was talking to one of my classmates and telling her about how I was lonely, blah blah blah. She’s from Spain and on top of being alone, she has the language barrier. She said something along the lines of, “I’m just happy to be here.” That statement resonated with me and that’s how I decided to stop feeling sorry for myself and make the most of my trip even if I am over 5000 miles away from all of my friends. And because of that attitude adjustment, I have become so much happier.

Soccer (football) is such a big deal here. I see jerseys everywhere and the occasional painted face. Ladurée dress-Nasty Gal Tate Modern Big Ben and The London Eye dress-ASOS kimono-Nasty Gal necklace-Vanessa Mooney Classmates. Apparently eating lunch in the park, on the grass, is a real thing that Europeans do. dress-Free People necklace-via Bloomingdale’s top-Pray for Paris shorts-ASOS necklace-TOPSHOP sandals-Sam Edelman

Everything here is ridiculously expensive compared to the US so I haven’t been shopping much…so out of character, I know. I’m on the hunt for indigenous clothing and accessories that I couldn’t buy online.

Today, I went to an art exhibition called Digital Revolution that had pieces such as the first Apple computer and an installation/hologram by will.i.am. It was probably the coolest thing I’ve ever experienced.

This city is amazing. I never want this to end. Everyone is so open minded and nothing anyone wears is shocking or “weird.” I’ve seen dreads, septum piercings, goths, punks, reeboks with culottes and groups of girls casually wearing bindis like they were on their way to Coachella. I’ve found that people in London are so much more accepting than people in Los Angeles.